I recently had the opportunity to go through a couple of major surgeries. One of them was supposed to be out-patient. When I woke up they told me there were “complications,” and I would get to hang out in the hospital for several days. Thankfully I’m all fixed now, but hearing about a major complication threw me for a loop.
I like things to be orderly and planned out. I was fully prepared for an out-patient 45 minute surgery. A friend took me to the hospital and was going to take me home. Then my sister was going to come take over caring for me.
As the doctors would come in my hospital room to check on me, I kept hearing “We shouldn’t have found this” and “It was a miracle we were able to do this without cutting you open.” I came to quickly realize that it wasn’t their 20-plus years of surgeon skills; it was God putting His hand of protection on me.
No one wants to hear, “Oh by the way, we found a tumor in your small intestine.” However because God protected me now, albeit in a painful way, a much more severe pain was prevented. Because the doctors were able to use small incisions I was able to have my already-scheduled additional surgery 10 days later.
So many times, I’ll pray for something, usually a temporary desire, and God won’t answer in the way I think is ideal. However, in the days, months and years following, I look back and say “Thank you!” because God protected me from a toxic friendship, the terrible ‘dream’ job, or in my case, a severe prolonged pain.
My favorite recovery verses were Exodus 23:25 “Worship the Lord your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.” And Psalm 103:2-4 “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”
Be encouraged! God chooses to save us so frequently from horrible earthly things because of His abiding love.